re: For people who actually saw and remember both. Badger or Casanova?

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Besides being a great player, Casanova made a huge contribution to the overall image of the university and the football team. Besides being a good looking GQ stud, he was a very kind and decent person and had an overwhelming sense of humility about him. He was an extraordinary ambassador for not only the football team but the entire university. He was unselfish and had that rare intangible commodity that you don’t often see today: CLASS

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This can all be said about TM7 now.

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Besides being a great player, Casanova made a huge contribution to the overall image of the university and the football team. Besides being a good looking GQ stud, he was a very kind and decent person and had an overwhelming sense of humility about him. He was an extraordinary ambassador for not only the football team but the entire university. He was unselfish and had that rare intangible commodity that you don’t often see today: CLASS

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Well said. I really enjoyed HB in 2011 but he let the team down in 2012. We beat Bama if he's on the field. That's part of the calculation and it's why in my opinion Casanova is the choice.

when Casanova tackled some one it was a collision - it is impossible to compare two players decades apart

I have no idea if Tommy Casanova was popular with the ladies, as his name might indicate. But, he was extremely talented in football and was LSU’s one and only 3 time All American.

As many great players that LSU has had, being the only 3 time All American is a pretty huge accomplishment.

But, jokes aside about his last name, Tommy Casanova was one of the smart guys. He used football to improve his life off the field, while being really good at the game.

Growing up in the small southern Louisiana town of Crowley, I can only assume at this point that Casanova wanted to play for the Tigers of LSU. But, since he attended Notre Dame High School in Crowley, there’s the chance that he dreamed of playing for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. No matter where his early dream school was located, Casanova wound up at LSU and the rest is history.

As a true freshman in 1968, Casanova had to play on the freshman team where he was a two way player and a standout. He played running back on offense and safety on defense. To top that off, he also returned punts and kicks.

That continued on the LSU Tiger varsity as a sophomore, but to a lessor degree.

More here,

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Casanova was better all around-- offense or defense. Honey Badger was definitely more exciting.

They were from different eras, but share many similarities.

Both good with the ball in their hands as weapons for special teams. Both very versatile (possibly the 2 most versatile players LSU has ever had). Both playmakers and very athletic. Mathieu probably a little more disruptive in causing turnovers, with Casanova a little more reliable in man coverage (but again, the speed of the game was quite different in the various eras).

The biggest difference was probably the size thing. Casanova was huge for the era - 6'2, over 200lbs in the secondary wasn't unheard of, but it was quite big. On the other hand, Mathieu was on the smallish size to play DB in our league, although not overly so.

Tommy had 17 interception and returned 2 for touchdowns. Casanova also returned 2 punts for touchdowns in the same game, 61 & 74 yards

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There were so many games where LSU was just flat, and it looking like the bad guys where going to grab the game. Then TM7 would just make some crazy arse play. Run a punt back, strip the ball from a WR, or sack fumble. Then the team would just take it to another level.